Batavia woman charged after baby hospitalized

Deputies investigating cause of boy's injuries

A Clermont County woman has been charged after her 14-month-old son was hospitalized with head injuries.

Sheriff's deputies said Victoria Gans, of Batavia, brought the boy, Noah Philhower, Wednesday to the emergency room at Children's Hospital.

Investigators interviewed the 19-year-old Gans, and they said the child's injuries were inconsistent with her account.

Family members said the child is out of the hospital.

"He is expected to make a full recovery," said the child's aunt, Ashley Fussnecker. "(The doctors) said if it was a hair over to the left of his head, he would have died instantly. It would have killed him instantly, so he's very, very lucky. (It's) a miracle for sure."

Deputies said the child was hurt sometime Tuesday, and Gans told them she wasn't home at the time. She told deputies that she left the boy with two adults she knows while she left for about four hours.

Gans has been charged with one count of child endangering and has bonded out of jail.

Investigators are still trying to determine how the boy's injuries were caused.

Fussnecker said she was quick to blame Gans after investigators said she waited a day to take the child to the hospital.

"I don't know her reasoning for not calling 911. She was scared and didn’t know what to do. She was 19, (and) being young and dumb, I don’t blame her. I blame (the babysitter) fully," said Fussnecker.

Family members said the babysitter, Alexis Sexton, intentionally dropped the boy on his head. At least one other mother has come forward, saying her daughter was hurt while in Sexton's care.

"I think it's insane because at first we think it's just Noah," said Fussnecker.

Fussnecker wants other parents who've used Sexton as a sitter to get their children checked out.

"I'm just going to be completely proactive with this whole thing," said Fussnecker.

Fussnecker has created a Facebook page with information about how to identify signs of child abuse. She is hopeful the right person is touched by her nephew's story.

"We have a lot of followers and supporters, and hopefully, we will raise awareness," said Fussnecker.

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